CLERMONT, FLA. 3/15/12 – The Keene State softball team posted a pair of impressive victories at the Dot Richardson Tournament at Legends Way Field in Clermont, Fla. on Thursday.

The Owls posted a 4-1 win over a Messiah (Pa.) College team that advanced to the Division III World Series last year and later overcame a five-run deficit to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) 13-9. 

KSC Coach Charlie Beach was very pleased with his teams play in the two games.  "They demonstrated in the win against Messiah that they're not afraid and can play with the top teams in the country," said Beach.  "In the second game, they didn't get down.  They just battled back and got after them." 

The Owls, who improve their Spring Week record to 5-1, scored all four of their runs with two outs in the third inning against Messiah.  Senior Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) knocked in two runs with a double down the right field line and junior Nicole Dupuis (Fitchburg, Mass.) had a two-run single up the middle.

Freshman Katie Newell (Shoreham, N.Y.) and Dupuis each had two hits for the Owls.

Senior Sara Stocklinski (Newton, N.J.) improved her record to 3-0 with the win.  She went five innings, giving up one run on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks. Freshman Julie Nolan (Weare, N.H.) tossed the finals two innings to pick up her second save of the season.  She allowed just one hit while fanning five batters. 

Keene State scored 13 runs on 16 hits in its come-from-behind win over RPI.   The Owl got two runs in the top of the first when senior Laura Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) had a bases loaded walk and Dupuis brought in another run with a fielder's choice.

The Engineers got one run in the bottom of the inning and six more in the second to go up 7-2.

The Owls got three runs back in the third on a two-run double by freshman Sara Bracken (Windham, N.H.) and a single up the middle by junior Kayla Joyce (Bridgewater, Mass.).

KSC scored three more runs in the fourth to take an 8-7 lead.  Stocklinski and Laura Chandler had RBI hits in the inning. The go-ahead run came home on an error.

After RPI tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth, Laura Chandler cracked a three-run home run to center in the fifth to put the Owls back on top 11-8.  It was her first home run of the season. 

Sophomore Ellissa Coburn (Claremont, N.H.) had an RBI double and Bracken plated another run with a hard-hit ball to the Engineer's third baseman to make it 13-8 in the seventh.

Chandler and Stocklinski each finished the game with three hits while senior Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) Dupuis, Coburn and Bracken had two hits.

Senior Emily Albin (Bethel, Conn.) struggled in her two innings in the circle.  Nolan took over in the third and notched her second win (2-0) of the season.  She allowed one run on one hit with six strikeouts and two walks in her four innings of work.  Senior Samantha Pratt (Bristol, Conn.)  got the final two outs for her second save of the trip.

The Owls have little time to savor their wins.  They wrap up their trip with games against Ithaca College and Wisconsin-Superior on Friday.    Ithaca was ranked 21st in the preseason poll and has made 24 trips to the NCAA tournament.  "They can't pound their chest because the games on Friday are just as tough," said Beach.